"Um", I said, with a rare burst of lucidity, "have you got a gate for the wall?" The Sage said he had, and where it is, leaning against the barn. I had observed it. "Is it the right width?" "Should be, I've measured it." We went over to it and looked silently for a minute. "Um," said the Sage, who talks much as I do, "it's not rabbit-proof, is it?" It's a very attractive wrought-iron gate, but a slender rabbit would have no difficulty getting through. "We'll have to put wire against it," he resolved.
Rather dismayed as I was by this, I let it pass. "It'll need cleaning and painting, anyway." "There's no rust," he said over-optimistically. "Um," I replied - there's a wealth of meaning in these two-lettered words, isn't there? - and pointed out where there was, distinctly, rust. It hasn't eaten into the metal and it's a very sturdy gate which will, with its weight, be the first test of the strength of the wall, but it would be silly to paint over it.
I can see I have a horrible job in front of me. Wire-brushing and scrubbing an intricately-patterned gate, sealing it against rust and painting it. I'll have to do it. Left to the Sage, he'll cheerily put it in place, promising to do the job properly soon and it still won't be done in five years' time.
Still, I'm going to measure it first, to be sure it fits.
Last night I went to bed with a headache and woke with the same one. I had meant to get up early and garden but, as I lay there feeling bleary, the Sage half-woke, put an arm round me and fell asleep again. So I got up rather late and didn't do the gardening until later in the day when it wasn't so hot.
I've put some of the pots out, in the bit of bed that I've dug. This is not how they will stay - it won't be long before there's more room when the next couple of sections have been completed, and I'll give these a bit more space, put out peppers and some flowers and aim to make it a bit more attractive - though I probably will stick to the flexibility of keeping things in pots this year - and more weeding has been done in the rest of the veg garden. This has knocked the artichokes about a bit, but they seem all right.
The plants all suffered somewhat from having been kept in pots for too long, but the hardy things had to wait until the fencing went up and the rest was delayed by the cold weather. It'll all recover and it can't be helped anyway. The headache went too, by the way. I sensibly lounged about drinking water for a bit, as I think I've been overdoing things in the heat of the day.
11 comments:
I see you have ignored the implication of my last comment, that you are a young woman.
You've prompted me to adjust my fluid intake as I awoke this morning with a reminder relating to something I ought to reserve for special occasions and take to wearing a hat more often.
As for the gate, isn't there a type of paint that can seal, prime and finish all in one, after some moderate prepping?
I love these glimpses into your marriage. You patiently accepting his answers and then checking to make sure it's right.
It sounds so normal, it just makes me smile.
The pictures of the garden are amazing...and look at that fabulous wall. The Great Wall of East Angular.
Hammerite allegedly can be painted straight over mild cases of rust.
You're right - 'Er...' doesn't have the same philosophical resonances as 'Um'.
There's a French saying On connait le maçon par le pied du mur, roughly 'you can tell the builder's quality by the foot of the wall', i.e. if there are great dollops of cement and débris lying about all over the place he's not much cop. Do I see any d. of c. and d.?
Don't answer that question, Z.
I saw "Hammerite" used on a handrail at the library, the craftsman had huge cans of it; only ten months later it litterally fell off on large patterns or patches. I have no idea what went wrong. I am absolutely unqualified for crafts or handwork.
Mago - Sounds to me like you saw a fixed price contractor rather than a reputable painter and decorator, who would have ensured that for the job to last, would've prepared the surfaces prior to painting to ensure they were grease free and offering a good 'key'. A blacksmith (are hinges required?) could offer advice, as well as a vehicle restorer.
Christopher - Are you talking about external work or a job that is being carried out undercover in a warm and dry environment?
You reduced me to silence, Dave. I'm reassured to know that you didn't actually mean it.
Anon, darling, do I look like a woman for moderate prepping? It's all or nothing here.
Practically none, Chris.
Whoops, Dave, sorry.
I know how to do a job properly, have no fear, Anon and Mago. I also know when to get away with skimping - such as with the tonic in a G&T.
I am jealous of your problems.
Darling, I'm female. Would I be happy without something to complain about?
Roses, I'm sure he's checked it properly. He probably designed the wall to fit the gate. But I'm still going to check!
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